Category: Speaker

Dr. Michael R. Edelstein

February 28, 2016

Dr. Michael R. Edelstein will discuss Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). REBT is a present-centered, active-directive form of psychotherapy devised in 1955 by noted humanist and pioneering psychologist Dr. Albert Ellis. REBT helps individuals identify the dysfunctional philosophies at the core of their anxiety, depression, anger, relationship problems, and addictions, then teaches them how to change their thinking. REBT spawned the many varieties of cognitive-behavioral therapies currently practiced. Dr. Edelstein is a clinical psychologist and author of 4 books, including Three Minute Therapy. He was a patient of, then trained with, Dr. Albert Ellis. Dr. Edelstein has a phone, Skype, and in-person REBT therapy practice. His website is www.ThreeMinuteTherapy.com.

 

Humanist Community Forum (2016-02-28): Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (Dr. Michael R. Edelstein) from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

 

Francis Bencik

February 21, 2016

(Note: Voting for the HCSV Board of Directors will occur immediately before this Forum. See the Feb. 7 Forum write-up.)

There are approximately 19.5 million refugees worldwide and a staggering 51% are under the age of 18. A high percentage of those children, whether in refugee camps or urban centers, have lost or been separated from their families. Francis Bencik, the Community Coordinator for the Refugee Foster Care program at Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, will provide an overview of how unaccompanied refugee minors arrive to the Bay Area and how one can become a foster parent or volunteer. Francis grew up in Croatia following the end of the Croatian War of Independence, and is the co-founder of Migrants Matter, an EU advocacy organization aiming to advance migrants’ rights as part of the EU agenda.

Adam Frogel

January 17, 2016

Adam Frogel has an M.S. from U.C. Berkeley, and worked as an interpreter, translator and transliterator for 42 years. He will discuss the above topic.

Prof. Nancy C. Unger

January 10, 2016

In doing the research for her new book Belle La Follette: Progressive Era Reformer, Santa Clara University Associate History Professor Nancy C. Unger discovered that the work of previous historians (including herself!) had drastically underestimated this great humanist (1859-1931). Come discover the surprising truths about the radical reformer denounced as “disgraceful to the white race” who fought for votes for women, peace, civil rights…and more. This presentation, richly illustrated by PowerPoint images, will present Belle La Follette as a model of progressive reform for 2016.

 

James Hilgendorf

January 3, 2016

James Hilgendorf (http://www.jameshilgendorf.org) is a filmmaker, speaker, and the author of ten non-fiction books. He and his wife Elizabeth have been practicing Buddhism for forty-three years with the Soka Gakkai International (http://www.sgi.org). He will discuss:

Arnold Toynbee – State of the world. Where are we heading three thousand years from now?
Physics: The shift from classical to quantum. Holograms. You are the Center.
Death. Leo Tolstoy, and the Light at the End of the Tunnel.
Happiness: Relative and absolute. Not what you’d expect. Love of fate. There are no negatives.

 

Humanist Community Forum (2016-01-03): Life, Death, & The World (with a little Happiness thrown in) – James Hilgendorf from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.